Minnesotans Wolters, Dower getting some basketball love

Blog Post by: Michael Rand

November 4, 2013 - 3:35 PM

If you like to keep up with former Minnesota athletes playing elsewhere, you DON'T always have to wait for Stu's Hunt Down. Sometimes we check in with some updates ourselves -- like today, for instance, with a quick peek at two Minnesota natives getting some basketball love at different levels:

Nate Wolters: The St. Cloud Tech product, who starred at South Dakota State, was a second-round pick in the NBA draft and wound up making the Milwaukee Bucks' roster. Not only that, but Wolters has been thrust into action -- playing heavy minutes and even starting one game so far out of three for short-handed Milwaukee. Wolters had 14 points in 29 minutes off the bench in the Bucks' only victory this season (105-98 over Boston) and was also a plus-23 in that game. He had seven points and 10 assists in 36 minutes against the Raptors on Saturday.

Sam Dower: The former Osseo standout now with Gonzaga was tabbed one of 25 "breakout" college players by ESPN's Jeff Goodman. Dower checked in at No. 7. The Gonzaga big man could be in for big things this season. Per Goodman: Dower has been a role player for the last three seasons, playing behind guys like Elias Harris, Robert Sacre and Kelly Olynyk. All three are now in the NBA. This season will be different for the skilled Minnesota native, largely because Mark Few needs Dower.